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Effect of perinatal polybrominated biphenyl exposure on acquisition and performance of an autoshaping paradigm
Insights
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) exposure in pregnant rats altered offspring behavior, delaying learning in females and increasing responding in males. These neurodevelopmental effects persisted into adulthood, impacting learning and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neurotoxicology
- Developmental Toxicology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are persistent organic pollutants with known neurotoxic potential.
- Exposure during critical developmental periods may lead to long-term neurobehavioral deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of gestational and lactational polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) exposure on the behavior of male and female Sprague-Dawley rat offspring.
- To assess the impact of PBB exposure on learning, response rates, and drug-induced behavioral changes in adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant rats were administered oral doses of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) as fireMaster BP-6 (BP-6) from gestation day 6 through postpartum day 24.
- Offspring were subjected to an autoshaping paradigm at approximately 6 months of age after a period of food deprivation.
- Behavioral acquisition across four phases, including variable interval, fixed interval, and fixed ratio schedules, was assessed.
- Response to d-amphetamine and chloral hydrate challenges was evaluated in the final phase.
Main Results:
- Female offspring exposed to 2 mg/kg/day PBB showed delayed acquisition in Phase I (VI-90s schedule).
- Male offspring exhibited faster acquisition in Phase II (FI-90s schedule), while females showed slower acquisition, suggesting sex-specific effects.
- Increased responding was observed in male offspring during Phase III (FR-20 schedule) after initial acquisition.
- No significant PBB-related changes in behavior were observed during Phase IV drug challenges.
Conclusions:
- Gestational and lactational exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) can induce persistent neurobehavioral changes in Sprague-Dawley rat offspring.
- Sex-specific alterations in learning and response rates were observed, indicating differential vulnerability.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these long-term neurodevelopmental effects of PBB exposure.
Abstract:
Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received oral doses of 0, 0.2 or 2 mg/kg/day polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) as fireMaster BP-6 (BP-6) from day 6 of gestation through day 24 postpartum. At approximately 6 months of age male and female offspring were food-deprived to 80% of their free-feeding weights and subjected to four phases of an autoshaping paradigm. Acquisition of Phase I, a VI-90 second schedule of responding, was significantly delayed for female offspring from dams administered 2 mg/kg/day BP-6; a trend toward delayed acquisition was observed in all other PBB-exposed animals. No BP-6-related difference in latency to respond during this phase was observed. Male offspring from dams administered BP-6 appeared to acquire Phase II responding (a FI-90 second contingency) at a faster rate than did control males. In contrast, BP-6-exposed females acquired Phase II responding at a somewhat slower rate than did control females. The sex-related difference in responding may involve a rate-dependent influence, as control females acquired Phase II responding much more quickly than did control males. Control males and females acquired Phase III (FR-20 responding) at approximately the same rate. No BP-6-related deficits were observed during the initial few days of acquisition of FR-20 responding. However, BP-6-exposed male offspring tended to respond more than did control males after this time. BP-6-exposed females tended to respond less than did control females only as the responding of controls approached an asymptote. Phase IV involved FR-20 responding following challenge with d-amphetamine or chloral hydrate; no significant BP-6-related changes in disruption of this behavior were observed.
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